High Groves

High Groves is one of the largest and most beautiful private country estates in Greece, and perhaps in all of the Balkans. Located 1 ½ hours by car, or 15 minutes by helicopter, from Athens, amid numerous prominent ancient sites, the estate is just a 10 minute drive to the sea.

High Groves is a 1,615 stremata (400 acre) estate, approximately ¼ of which is mature orchards and vineyard, encircled by a lush private forest. A natural bowl in shape, extending to the tops of the surrounding mountains, High Groves combines privacy and seclusion, with accessibility to the sea, to Athens and to many of Greece’s most important ancient sites, including the Theatres and Asclepion of Epidaurus, Mycenae, Tyrinth, Corinth, Argos, Nemea and the Palamidi of Nauplio, High Groves is a 10 minute drive from the seaside village of Ancient Epidaurus, with its hydrofoil service to Pireaus and the islands of the Saronic Gulf.

All-weather graded dirt roads connect the estate on two sides to nearby paved roads. A main highway connects the area with Corinth and Athens, as well as Nauplio, Porto Heli, Kilada and other nearby points of interest in Peloponnesus.

A bower of immense natural beauty, High Groves enjoys a distant view of the sea from one of its promontories, as well as exquisite mountain and agricultural views throughout.

The property has operated as a fruit orchard, vineyard and horse farming estate since the early 1970’s.

The 700 m2 stone Manor House is located on one of the hillsides, with commanding views of the valley and of distant mountain ranges. The Manor House sleeps up to 14 people in seven bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom. The master bedroom has a separate dressing room and both His and Hers bathrooms. The drawing room, dining room and VIP bedroom boast cathedral ceilings, with exposed beams. A massive marble fireplace presides over the Drawing Room, and an elegant stone fireplace accents the Library. The Manor House also claims a gourmet kitchen, with pantry and breakfast area. Heating is oil-fired and under-floor throughout. Extensive verandas and a covered Loggia overlook the entire valley, the flower and herb gardens and a stunning 16m x 8m heated swimming pool. The landscaping was conceived by a Chelsea Flower Show Gold Award winner, and adapted by an English landscape architect, noted for his work on the Victoria and Albert Museum gardens.

The Manor House also has a large home theatre, games room, gymnasium, wine cellar, two bed-room caretaker’s flat and four car garage. The property enjoys walled security, automatic gates, and comprehensive intruder alarm and surveillance camera systems.

Three hundred metres from the Manor House is a secondary 250 m2 all-stone Lodge House, including separate 90 m2 flat. Cathedral ceilings with exposed beams cover the open-format Living, Dining and Kitchen areas. A large fireplace commands this space. The Lodge has three bedrooms, each with en-suite bath. The separate flat includes a large bedroom, bathroom, sitting room and kitchen. Heating is oil-fired and under-floor throughout. An additional 60 m2 fully heated stone Staff Cottage, with two bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen, is located nearby. The Lodge complex includes extensive verandas, panoramic views of the nearby village of Dimena, and a traditional outdoor bread oven and roasting pit. The estate’s working barn is located near the Lodge House, enabling guests to observe the activities of a working tree farm and vineyard.

Separate stone stables and paddocks are at an appropriate distance from the residences, and provide opportunity for horseback riding in the surrounding countryside and the endless bridle paths throughout the surrounding forests.

The estate is an operating farm, whose orchards include 2,000 Olive, 900 Apricot, 300 Pear, 650 Clementine, 350 Orange, 75 Grapefruit, 230 Pistachio, 125 Walnut, 75 Hazelnut, plus miscellaneous Pecan, Almond, Fig, Apple and Quince trees. The mature Vineyard consists of 2,000 grapevines of the Roditis, Muscat-Hamburg, Espana and Savatiano varieties.

The estate is endowed with abundant and extremely pure natural water resources.

High Groves is a world class private country estate, as well as a stunning agricultural and wildlife preserve. It is highly appropriate for those seeking natural beauty and privacy.